Glover joins Rosen at top of Hope Classic

THOUSAND PALMS, Calif. – Lucas Glover overcame a five-stroke deficit to join Justin Rose at the top of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic leaderboard, shooting a 7-under 65 on Saturday in the fourth round of the 90-hole tournament.

The 27-year-old Glover, a former Clemson star who has steadily moved up the ranks on the tour, matched Rose at 20 under, sticking his irons close to the pin on most greens at LaQuinta and making a couple of 25-foot putts on others.

Rose, the 26-year-old Englishman who also appears to be a player on the rise, shot a 70 at The Classic Club, the site of the final round. That followed a third round when he had taken a two-shot lead with a 66 in cold, windy weather.

Conditions were nearly ideal for the fourth round, with temperatures in the 60s – a day after they dipped into the 40s – and very little wind.

Glover is shooting for his second PGA Tour victory. He won the Funai Classic in 2005. Rose is looking for his first.

John Rollins was two shots back after a 67, and Jeff Quinney (66) and Charley Hoffman (68) were tied for fourth at 16 under.

Inkster, Hurst spur U.S. at World Cup golf

SUN CITY, South Africa – Juli Inkster and Pat Hurst shot a 2-under 70 in alternate-shot play at the Women’s World Cup on Saturday, positioning the United States for a final-day charge at first-place Paraguay.

The Americans had the only under-par round on a breezy day to take third place at 219. Paraguay had a 75 for 214, with Italy second at 218 after a 73.

The final round is better ball.

“We have nothing to lose, really,” Inkster said.

They had just one birdie and one bogey on the opening nine, with three birdies and a bogey on the closing nine.

“We battled to get going on the first day, too,” Hurst said. “We will really be trying to get started fast tomorrow.”

The Paraguayan team of Celeste Troche and Julieta Granada managed just two birdies – Nos. 5 and 18 – and saw the U.S. team moving up the leaderboard.

“We found it quite difficult to play alternate shot,” Granada said. “You feel as if you are carrying the expectations of the other player all the time. Tomorrow, we will be able to concentrate on our own games and go for birdies.”

Defending champion Sweden had another bad day, with Helen Alfredsson and Carin Koch carding an 81 to slump to 238. Finland and Brazil both shot 72, the only other nations apart from the U.S. to make par or better.

In fourth place was South Korea, which had a terrible start when Young Kim took a two-shot penalty for moving an advertising board. The 8 on the par-5 hole rattled Young and Ji Yai-shin, and they had a double bogey on No. 12 and a bogey on No. 17.

On No. 18, Ji’s approach caromed off the retaining wall surrounding the water and dropped in. She cried near the green but gathered herself to make a 12-foot par putt to keep her country in contention.